Almost six weeks to the day after government tensions derailed a $45 billion merger that would have created the world’s largest aerospace and arms conglomerate between Airbus parent EADS and British defense contractor BAE Systems PLC, both companies have agreed to each move forward with a fixed 12 percent stake in the aerospace and defense group, according to the report.

Spain, meanwhile, will retain its 5.5 percent stake in EADS under the agreement.

Had the October merger proceeded, the combined company would have employed about 220,000 worldwide – including 45,000 in the United States – but German interests withdrew support after sensing a loss of equal footing in the venture considering the mounting success of Toulouse, France-based Airbus.

Airbus, EADS’ commercial aviation arm, unveiled plans in July to construct a $600 million final assembly plant at Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile. The facility, its first such plant on U.S. soil, is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs by 2016, and represents a strategic step by the planemaker to strengthen its presence and production in the United States.